How can I leave a Medicare Health Plan?

When you sign up for a Medicare Advantage (MA) Health Plan, like PFFS plans, you are making an agreement with the plan. It’s important to understand the terms of this agreement, including the obligations and penalties for termination of the agreement. You can leave or switch PFFS plans during the year if you qualify for […]

Can You Be Denied Supplemental Insurance for Medicare?

If you’re on a Medicare PFFS plan, you have no guarantee of supplemental insurance coverage. There is no government oversight of this, unlike PPO plans. This means that there are often annual limits on care and no recourse for the consumer if anything goes wrong with the insurance. Even if you are covered by a […]

What’s the difference between Medicare Advantage Plans and Medicare Supplement Plans?

Medicare Advantage Plans (MA-PPO/HMO) are sold by insurance companies while Medicare Supplement plans (Medigap) are sold by insurance companies and private insurance companies. The plans are very similar, and the advantages are essentially the same. However, some plans are better than others, so it is important to do a little homework before you make a […]

When is Medicare secondary to my insurance?

The Medicare brochure titled “Medicare & Other Health Benefits: Your Guide to Who Pays First” describes this in detail. In summary, if you have Medicare and other health insurance (like from a group health plan, retiree coverage, or Medicaid), each type of coverage is called a “payer.” When there’s more than one payer, “coordination of […]

I’m a Veteran and have Veterans’ benefits. Can I get Medicare?

If you have (or can get) both Medicare and Veterans’ benefits, you can get treatment under either program. Generally, Medicare and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can’t pay for the same service or items. Medicare pays for Medicare-covered services or items. The VA pays for VA-authorized services or items. Each time you get […]

Do you sign us up for Medicare, or do we do that?

You can sign up for a Medicare plan yourself; however, there are some excellent reasons not to do this. We can sign you up to help you avoid the following issues. Medicare is confusing. One mistake can lead to substantial lifetime penalties or even the inability to get coverage. Choosing the wrong plan can leave […]

Do Medicare Quotes Vary from Agency to Agency

Licensed agents help Medicare beneficiaries choose the proper coverage. Agents are licensed and registered individuals to solicit and enroll people into insurance products. Agencies provide administrative support such as marketing, technology infrastructure, compliance, and other services for agents. Medicare plans contract with agencies to reach and enroll beneficiaries. Agents earn commissions directly from insurers. Independent […]

Must I enroll in Medicare at age 65?

No. You are not required to enroll in Medicare when you become eligible. However, if you do not enroll, it may be challenging to receive all of your Medicare benefits. There are two main parts of Medicare to be aware of for this discussion – Part A, which is coverage for inpatient hospitalization services, and […]

What do Medicare prescription drug plans in my area cost?

Medicare offers prescription drug coverage for everyone with Medicare. This coverage is called “Part D.” There are 2 ways to get Medicare prescription drug coverage: 1. Join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (PDP). These plans add coverage to Original Medicare, and can be added to one of these: • A Medicare Savings Account (MSA) Plan. […]

Which Medicare plan covers prescription medications?

There are 2 ways to get Medicare drug coverage: 1. Medicare drug plans. These plans add drug coverage to Original Medicare, some Medicare Cost Plans, some Private Fee‑for‑Service plans, and Medical Savings Account plans. You must have Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and/or Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) to join a separate Medicare drug plan. […]